Doncaster Rovers 0 West Ham United 1: match report

Read a full match report of the Championship game between Doncaster Rovers and
West Ham United at Keepmoat Stadium
on Saturday Aug 13 2011.

By Alam Khan at Keepmoat Stadium

10:10PM BST 13 Aug 2011

Having worked with him at Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United, Sam Allardyce often lauded the qualities of Kevin Nolan.

Tireless in midfield, and with an ability to be in the right place at the right time to rack up a healthy tally of goals, Allardyce drew comparisons with Frank Lampard.

While Nolan has never reached the same heights as the Chelsea and England international, he consistently influences games.

Saturday brought his first goal in West Ham United colours since a £3 million summer move from Newcastle and the surprise decision to drop down a division.

It was a typical poacher’s effort and typified why Allardyce was so keen to be reunited with him again. “Kevin has a good mentality and knows what it takes to get out of this division,” said the West Ham manager of Nolan, who scored 18 times when leading Newcastle to promotion in 2010.

“It has got to be quality with teamwork and team spirit, and he builds that. He talks to players, demands from players and helps me with my job.”

Just four minutes had gone when Jack Collison swung over a deep and inviting cross from the right and Nolan stretched to send the ball past Gary Woods.

Another goal, and a fine example of his shooting repertoire, almost followed when he rifled a 25-yard effort against the woodwork.

Woods may have got a faint touch to that, but the Doncaster keeper’s hand was firm in the 66th minute to deny Nolan once more from a clever chip.

West Ham controlled much of the game and understandably so. Not only do they have players of Premier League stature, but Doncaster were missing 10 first-choice players, most notably the striking pair of Billy Sharp and James Hayter.

Yet they might have snatched a point. From a corner for the visitors, James Coppinger raced clear but, as Robert Green advanced, the winger decided to slide the ball across for support that was not there. He then glanced a header inches past the post.

The late rally could not deny West Ham a first away win since February and Allardyce added: “It was a little uncomfortable, but I liked the resilience of our defence.

“This showed we can dig in. It was important to win, not just because of our poor away record, but losing late against Cardiff when we didn’t deserve to lose.”

Sean O’Driscoll, the Doncaster manager, had few positive thoughts after a second successive league defeat.

“Too many people think they can play in this division without doing the basics,” he said. “It doesn’t disappoint me that we played poorly, what does is not doing the things they are told.